Driver's Safety Courses

If you are charged with a traffic offense, you may be eligible to ask the judge to take a driving safety course to dismiss the charge. The request must be made before the appearance date on the citation. It must be made in person, by counsel, or by certified mail. If you were operating a motorcycle, you must take a motorcycle operator’s training course. At the time of the request, you must do the following:

Plead guilty or no contest

Pay court costs and a $10 administrative fee, if required

Present proof of financial responsibility (insurance)

Present a Texas Driver’s License

Have not requested and taken a driving safety course or motorcycle operator course for a traffic offense within the last 12 months

An offense in a construction maintenance work zone when workers are present

Speeding 25 mph or more over limit

Deferred Case Date

The case will be deferred for 90 days. During that time you must:

Complete a driving safety course that has been approved by the Texas Education Agency or a motorcycle operator’s course approved by the Department of Public Safety

Present a certified copy of your driving record from the Department of Public Safety that shows that you have not had a driving safety course within the preceding 12 months

Swear to an affidavit that you are not currently taking a driving safety course and that you have not taken one that is not shown on your driving record

If you do not take the course in the time required and/or fail to present the court with any of the required documents, the court will notify you to return to court and explain why you failed. The judge may, but is not required to, allow you to file the proper papers at that time. Your failure to be present at that hearing will result in a conviction, a fine being assessed, and a warrant for your arrest being issued.